Meeting Room C did not feel like a high school discussion room. The atmosphere inside was more akin to a summit of superpower leaders fighting over disputed territory, where every smile concealed a nuclear warhead.
This was the Gemini Group. The group dubbed by some students as the "Hell Group."
On one side of the table sat Ichinose Honami, the leader of Class A who had just won the economic war during the island exam. Her charismatic aura dominated the room, drawing the attention of students from the other classes like moths to a flame.
On the other side sat Kouenji Rokusuke. He was currently combing his blonde hair using a pocket mirror, humming softly as if he were in his own private salon, paying absolutely no mind to the sharp glare of Kitou Hayato from Class C sitting across from him.
In a quiet corner, Shiina Hiyori opened a thick, leather-bound book, reading in silence as if she were in her private library, creating an untouchable bubble of peace.
And in the very center of that chaos, sat Seiji Koroizumi.
The VIP.
Seiji sat with a relaxed posture, his hands clasped together on the table. His face bore his signature friendly smile, yet his honey-colored eyes moved nimbly, mapping out every single threat in the room.
"Alright, everyone," Ichinose's voice broke the silence, gentle yet firm.
She stood up, taking on the role of moderator naturally—a position no one dared to contest.
"We all know the rules. We all know the stakes. But before we start suspecting one another... I'd like to propose something."
Ichinose looked at every member of the group, one by one. Her gaze was warm, yet there was a steely resolve behind it.
"Let's go for Scenario 1. We don't need to guess anyone. We don't need to drag anyone down. We can sit here, chat casually for three days, and go home with 500,000 points in each of our pockets. What do you say?"
A peace offering. Classic Ichinose.
"I agree," Hasebe Haruka from Class B said, raising her hand lazily. "I need points to buy snacks."
"Me too," added Miyake Akito.
"Class A agrees," Watanabe Norihito stated.
It seemed a consensus would be easily reached. However, Seiji knew that in this room, "easy" was a taboo word.
"Hahaha! How boring!"
The laughter erupted from Kouenji's direction. He snapped his mirror shut with a sharp clack.
"A petty sum of 500,000 points? Do you honestly think I, Kouenji Rokusuke, would be moved by such a pathetic amount?"
Kouenji propped his feet up onto the table, right next to Ichinose's stack of notepad papers.
"This exam is a stage to discover who is the most special. Who is chosen by destiny."
Kouenji pointed his thumb at himself.
"And the answer is already obvious, isn't it? I am the only entity worthy of being called the VIP in this room. Therefore, you do not need to bother searching. The answer is right in front of your eyes."
That declaration caused several Class D students (namely Tokito Hiroya) to scoff in annoyance.
"You're the VIP?" Tokito asked cynically. "You're just a narcissistic lunatic."
"Narcissistic? No, Boy. That is reality," Kouenji retorted. "But am I the VIP according to this flawed school system? That is the riddle for you to solve. Perhaps yes, perhaps no. Regardless, I will not be participating in this tedious discussion. I am going to sleep."
Kouenji crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes, and within seconds, his breathing became even. He was literally sleeping (or rather, fake-sleeping incredibly convincingly).
Kouenji's actions created chaos. Was he the VIP trying to divert attention with eccentric behavior? Or was he just Kouenji being Kouenji?
That uncertainty was the perfect smokescreen.
Ichinose let out a short sigh, then turned to Seiji.
"What do you think, Koroizumi-kun?" Ichinose asked suddenly.
Seiji felt the sharp pierce of Ichinose's gaze. That wasn't an idle question. It was a probe.
"Kouenji-kun is... unique," Seiji answered diplomatically. "But he is right about one thing. This exam tests who is 'special'. The problem is, the school's definition of special might differ from Kouenji's."
"True," Ichinose smiled, then sat back down. She leaned forward, looking straight at Seiji.
"By the way, Koroizumi-kun. I heard a rumor... that you were the one who devised Class B's strategy during the island exam. That 'Card Decoy' strategy at the spring was brilliant."
Seiji didn't even blink. "Rumors tend to exaggerate, Ichinose-san. It was teamwork."
"Ah, being modest again," Ichinose tilted her head. Her blue eyes seemed to be trying to dissect the inside of Seiji's head.
"You know, in a game of Werewolf or Mafia, the most dangerous player isn't the loudest one like Kouenji-kun. It's the quietest player, the one who always agrees with the majority opinion, and who appears the most harmless."
Ichinose pointed her pen at Seiji.
"You are very quiet, Koroizumi-kun. You immediately agreed with my Scenario 1 proposal earlier. Is that because you truly desire peace? Or is it because... as the VIP, Scenario 1 is the safest path to victory for you?"
A direct attack.
Ichinose wasn't playing around. She was using open deductive logic to back Seiji into a corner.
The room fell silent. Kitou from Class C stared intently at Seiji. Tokito from Class D was beginning to look suspicious.
If Seiji defended himself too aggressively, he would look panicked. If he stayed silent, it would look like an admission of guilt.
Seiji smiled.
"An interesting analysis, Ichinose-san," Seiji said calmly. He picked up his water bottle, slowly unscrewing the cap.
"You are correct. As the VIP, agreeing to Scenario 1 is the most rational strategy. But..."
Seiji stared right back at Ichinose.
"...isn't it also the most rational strategy for a non-VIP who wishes to protect their class?"
Seiji set his bottle down.
"I am from Class B. We just climbed the ranks. We have momentum. The absolute last thing we want is to lose 50 class points over a stupid guess. Therefore, regardless of whether I am the VIP or not, I would undoubtedly support Scenario 1."
Seiji used "Schrödinger's" logic. He created an argument that was valid for both conditions (VIP and Non-VIP).
"Furthermore," Seiji added, his eyes glinting playfully. "If you suspect me simply because I am quiet... isn't Shiina-san over there much quieter than I am?"
Seiji passed the hot potato to Shiina Hiyori.
Hiyori, who had been reading her book the entire time, slowly lifted her head. She did not look bothered.
"Me?" Hiyori smiled innocently. "I'm quiet because I'm currently reading a funeral scene in this book. It's very melancholic."
An absurd answer, yet perfectly in character for Hiyori.
"See?" Seiji spread his hands. "Quietness can have many reasons, Ichinose-san. Don't let your paranoia conjure up imaginary enemies."
Ichinose fell silent for a moment, looking back and forth between Seiji and Hiyori. Her instincts were still screaming that Seiji was hiding something. But his argument was solid.
She couldn't attack without proof.
"You're right," Ichinose finally conceded, her smile blooming once again, albeit slightly stiffly. "I apologize. I just wanted to make sure we are all on the same page."
"Not a problem. Vigilance is the mark of a good leader," Seiji praised.
In his heart, however, Seiji knew this was only the first round.
Ichinose was conducting a stress test. She applied pressure on Seiji to see if he would crack.
And Seiji knew he had to play this role flawlessly for the next 72 hours.
He glanced at Kouenji, who was still "sleeping."
Thank you for the initial distraction, Kouenji, Seiji thought. Thanks to you, the standard for 'suspicious' in this room has been completely scrambled.
"Well then," Seiji said, taking the initiative. "Since we've agreed on Scenario 1, and Kouenji-kun is already asleep... how about we talk about something else? Shiina-san, what book are you reading?"
"Ah, it's a classic mystery," Hiyori closed her book enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "It's about a murderer who hides among the party guests, pretending to be one of the victims."
"What a horrifying coincidence," Ichinose commented, her eyes sharpening once again.
"Literature always reflects life, does it not?" Seiji countered smoothly.
The Gemini Group's discussion commenced with high tension cleverly disguised by literary chatter and Kouenji Rokusuke's soft snoring.
At the center of this round table of monsters, Seiji Koroizumi—the VIP—was playing the most dangerous game of all: Being the monster who looked the least like a monster.
...........................................................
Time in Meeting Room C seemed to crawl. The analog wall clock above the door ticked in a monotonous rhythm that tortured the nerves.
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Two hours had passed since the first discussion session began.
On the surface, the Gemini Group appeared peaceful. Kouenji Rokusuke still had his eyes closed and arms crossed, his breathing steady as if he were meditating in his own narcissistic nirvana. Most of the students from Classes A, C, and D had begun to relax, chatting lightly or playing on their phones, placing their trust in the "Scenario 1" consensus proposed by Ichinose.
Beneath the surface, however, a raging undercurrent was churning between two people.
Ichinose Honami could not calm down.
Even though she was smiling and responding to Hasebe Haruka's chatter about potato chip flavors, Ichinose's mind was entirely focused on the young man sitting across from her.
Seiji Koroizumi.
Seiji was... reading. He had borrowed one of Hiyori's books and was reading it casually, occasionally taking a sip of his bottled tea.
He's too calm, Ichinose thought, her fingers tapping against her thigh under the table.
Ichinose's logic ran in circles:
Seiji is Class B's strategist.
Class B is currently chasing down Class A.
If Seiji is the VIP, his safest strategy is to push for Scenario 1 (peace) to secure private points and prevent Class B from losing points.
However, if Seiji is not the VIP, he should be actively looking for an opening to attack Class A or D in order to gain a class advantage.
The fact that Seiji was so passive and supportive of peace... was a strong indicator that he was a VIP playing it safe.
This is my chance, a little devil whispered in Ichinose's ear.
If Ichinose guessed Seiji right now and was correct:
Class A gains +50 Class Points.
Class B loses -50 Class Points.
The gap between Class A and B would widen to over 150 points. Her top position would be secure.
The temptation was overwhelming. Her hand slowly moved toward her blazer pocket, brushing against her phone.
"A fascinating book, isn't it?"
Seiji's voice suddenly sliced through Ichinose's reverie.
Ichinose flinched slightly. She looked up and saw Seiji staring right at her. The book in Seiji's hands was open to the middle pages.
"Eh? Ah, yes," Ichinose replied, pulling her hand back from her pocket. "What book is that?"
"A collection of classic mystery short stories," Seiji answered. He turned toward Shiina Hiyori.
"Shiina-san, this short story, The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe... its philosophy is remarkably relevant to our current situation, isn't it?"
Hiyori's eyes lit up. Her favorite topic.
"Absolutely, Koroizumi-kun!" Hiyori set her own book down, a rare enthusiasm appearing on her usually tranquil face.
"The core of the story is about how to hide something. The police search for the missing letter by tearing apart the entire apartment, ripping open pillows, and checking behind the wallpaper. But they can't find it."
"Why?" Seiji asked, baiting the hook.
"Because the thief didn't hide it in a secret place," Hiyori beamed. "He left it out in the open. In a card rack, right in front of everyone's eyes. Because it was so conspicuous, the police completely ignored it, thinking 'there is no way a secret that important would be placed so carelessly'."
Seiji nodded, then shifted his gaze back to Ichinose. His smile was pregnant with meaning.
"Sometimes, the best hiding place is right under the spotlight, not in the shadows. Isn't that right, Ichinose-san?"
Ichinose's heart pounded.
Was this a confession? Was Seiji implicitly telling her: "I am the VIP, and I am sitting right in front of you, but you won't dare to guess me"?
Or... was this a trap?
"A great analogy," Ichinose said, trying her hardest to maintain her composure. "But in detective stories, there's also the concept of a Red Herring, right? A false clue intentionally made conspicuous to divert attention away from the real culprit."
"Exactly," Seiji closed his book with a soft tap.
"In this room, for example. Who is the most conspicuous? Kouenji-kun."
All eyes darted toward Kouenji, who was still "sleeping."
"He practically screamed that he is the VIP. He's acting bizarrely. He's conspicuous. By the logic of an amateur detective, he is a Red Herring," Seiji analyzed.
"But..." Seiji leaned forward.
"...what if the author of the story is a genius? What if they employ a Double Bluff? They make the culprit act conspicuously so the detective thinks 'ah, he's too obvious to be the culprit', when in reality... he actually is the culprit."
Ichinose's mind began to scramble.
Seiji was inverting deductive logic.
If Seiji is quiet = He is the VIP hiding.
If Kouenji is loud = He is the VIP using reverse psychology.
If Hiyori is silent = She is the VIP pretending not to care.
"Or perhaps," Hiyori added with her lethally innocent voice, "The culprit is the Narrator themselves. The person telling the story, the person leading the investigation... the person the reader trusts the most."
Hiyori's eyes—whether intentionally or not—were directed at Ichinose.
Ichinose froze.
Me? Ichinose thought. Is Hiyori accusing me?Or is she really just talking about the book?
And then she saw Seiji smile at Hiyori.
"The Unreliable Narrator," Seiji said.
"Like in the novel The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. The culprit was the detective's assistant who had been helping solve the case the entire time. It's a painful plot twist because it betrays trust."
Seiji looked at Ichinose again.
"Ichinose-san, you are the one leading this discussion. You are the one who suggested Scenario 1. You are the 'Narrator' of the Gemini Group. If you turn out to be the VIP planning to betray us at the very last second... that would be an incredibly literary twist."
Cold sweat trailed down Ichinose's spine.
Suddenly, she felt like she was the one being interrogated. Seiji had turned the tables. Using a literary discussion, Seiji had planted the seeds of doubt in everyone's mind—including Ichinose's own.
If Ichinose guessed Seiji right now, it would prove that she (Ichinose) was a traitor to the peace agreement. It would ruin her reputation.
And what's worse... what if Seiji wasn't the VIP?
What if Seiji was just a Decoy?
What if the real VIP was Kouenji, who was currently fake-sleeping? Or Hiyori, who looked so innocent?
If Ichinose guessed Seiji and was wrong, Class A would lose 50 points. Her lead would be slashed.
The risk was far too great.
Seiji saw the hesitation in Ichinose's eyes. He knew he had won this round.
He had used a "Literary Smokescreen." He blurred the lines between reality and fiction, making Ichinose overthink everything.
For an intelligent person like Ichinose, the greatest enemy wasn't someone else's lies, but her own imagination.
"Ah, my apologies," Seiji said, leaning back comfortably once more. "I got a bit carried away with the book discussion. Shiina-san truly is a delightful conversation partner."
"Thank you," Hiyori smiled sweetly. "We should start a book club, Koroizumi-kun."
"Great idea."
Ichinose let out a long breath, releasing her grip on the phone in her pocket.
She couldn't pull the trigger. Her aim was obscured.
"You two... are really in sync, aren't you," Ichinose commented with a tired smile.
"Just fellow mystery lovers," Seiji replied.
In the corner of the table, Kouenji Rokusuke opened one eye slightly, shot a brief glance at Seiji, then smirked faintly before returning to his soft snoring.
Even the narcissist admitted it: the show just now was quite entertaining.
The first discussion session for the Gemini Group ended without a single drop of blood spilled. However, the seeds of paranoia had been neatly planted in the fertile field known as imagination.
Seiji Koroizumi had successfully survived another hour in the lion's den, armed with nothing more than a borrowed book and a sharp tongue.
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